News & Stories

The Julia Rausing Trust Awards Grant to Save Smith Square Hall

Fri 12 Dec 2025

Sinfonia Smith Square has been awarded £500,000 from The Julia Rausing Trust in support of its ‘Doors Open’ capital project to restore the iconic Smith Square Hall.

The £22 million Doors Open project represents a generation-defining investment in the future of the Hall, safeguarding this nationally significant Grade I listed building and renowned concert venue.

Currently on Historic England’s Heritage at Risk Register, the restoration programme will ensure that the Hall not only survives but thrives for generations to come.

The Julia Rausing Trust’s support of Doors Open marks a significant milestone in the campaign, helping Sinfonia Smith Square move closer to realising its vision of a more inclusive, resilient, and environmentally responsible cultural hub for world-class music.

This transformative capital undertaking will begin in 2027, with support from the National Lottery
Heritage Fund. Sinfonia Smith Square is working with renowned conservation and performance
architects Burrell Foley Fischer on the project.

This generous grant from the Julia Rausing Trust reflects our shared vision of transforming Smith Square Hall into a world-class home for musicians and audiences for generations to come. The project’s name, Doors Open, captures both our architectural ambitions, and our commitment to offering an accessible, inclusive programme of exceptional music to all that visit. This investment marks a major milestone in delivering that ambition

Rosie Fraser, Chief Executive of Sinfonia Smith Square

We are delighted to support Sinfonia Smith Square's ‘Doors Open’ Project, which will not only remove Smith Square Hall off the Heritage At Risk Register, but also revitalise the building into a modern concert and events space in the heart of Westminster. We hope this project inspires new audiences and musicians alike.

Anne Dodwell, Director – Arts & Heritage at The Julia Rausing Trust

About the Julia Rausing Trust

The Julia Rausing Trust has been established in memory of the late British philanthropist Julia Rausing, who died in 2024.

The Julia Rausing Trust will see £100 million donated to charities and organisations in its first year and annually thereafter.

Julia Rausing co-founded The Julia and Hans Rausing Trust in 2014. She was widely known for her unwavering commitment to philanthropy and her impactful contributions to a wide range of UK charitable causes. She was instrumental in building the Julia and Hans Rausing Trust into one of the largest philanthropic funds in the country, donating £400 million to causes across Health, Welfare, and the Arts, primarily within the UK.

https://www.juliarausingtrust.org/